March 1, 2017/FOR IMMEDIATE RELASE Contact: Nancy Harding, (508) 996-8253, ext. 203, [email protected]

MacGregor Fiske Award to Recognize Novice Journalists

The MacGregor Fiske Fund of the Community Foundation of Southeastern invites nominations for the fifth annual memorial award honoring a promising journalist early in his or her career.

The $1,000 award will recognize a journalist who is relatively new to the field, encourage him or her to persevere in the profession and honor the contributions of journalists to sustaining an informed society.

The late MacGregor Fiske was a lifelong newspaperman - sportswriter, sports editor, news editor, city editor, copy editor and weekly columnist. In his work, as in all his life, he personified integrity, ethics, humor, warmth and compassion. He was a much-loved mentor and a greatly respected professional. He was 75 when he died in November 2009, and his widow, Mary McCann Fiske of Rochester, established the Fund and this award in his memory.

“After he died, I heard from several young reporters letting me know how much Mac had taught them. I wanted to do something that would continue his support for people who have chosen a career in journalism,” Ms. McCann Fiske said. “The work is critical to an informed society, but it’s sometimes overlooked and undervalued. I like the idea of recognizing and supporting those who may be working extra jobs or just getting by so they can be a part of a free press.”

To be considered for the award, applicants must have worked in the editorial department of a daily for less than five years. A wide range of professional roles are eligible, including reporters, sports writers, copy editors, page designers and photographers.

Applications can be downloaded at the Community Foundation’s website, www.cfsema.org, and are due at the Community Foundation on April 1, 2017. To donate to the MacGregor Fiske fund, visit https://www.cfsema.org/donors/donate-to-a-fund/donate and select “MacGregor Fiske Fund” from the drop-down menu.

About the Community Foundation The Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts is a tax-exempt public charity founded in 1995 to improve the quality of life in Southeastern Massachusetts by facilitating, advising, convening and/or responding to critical community issues. To date, CFSEMA has distributed more than $25 million in grants and scholarships from 225 funds to support youth programs, expand economic opportunities, increase educational attainment, promote sustainability, invest in the creative economy and, through the Women’s Fund, improve the economic status of women and girls. For more information, visit www.cfsema.org.

The MacGregor Fiske Award

MacGregor Fiske was a lifelong newspaperman who worked at the Framingham News/MetroWest Daily News, Providence Bulletin and Providence Journal. This will be the fifth year the MacGregor Fiske Fund has given an award to recognize a print journalist who is relatively new to the field, encourage him or her to persevere in the profession and honor the contributions of journalists to sustaining an informed society.

Applicants for the award submit samples of their work, a recommendation from their supervisor and write a brief essay on their achievements to date and career goals. A panel made up of editors, writers and communications professionals reviews submissions. Past participants have included journalists from , Globe, MetroWest Daily News, the New Bedford Standard-Times and the Portland Press Herald.

Recipients to date

Two of the Award's initial recipients are continuing their work at local . Two have transitioned to careers linked to their journalism backgrounds. All four agree the award provided encouragement as well as validation of the media's intrinsic value.

The first award winner in 2013, Emely DelSanto, continues to work as features layout editor at The Fall River Herald News. "Encouragement to those in the print media is slim pickings these days, so when you can find a bright spot like the Fiske Award, it's worth holding on to," Emely said recently. "It's a difficult industry to be in. We all see that every day. But when we're recognized for the quality of work we do, it's a morale boost."

In 2014, the award went to Samantha Allen, then a reporter at of Lowell. She has since worked at the Worcester Telegram & Gazette and now is project administrator and legal assistant to the media practice group at Prince Lobell Tye LLP, a Boston law firm. In her new role, Samantha said she works with a team of dedicated attorneys who vigilantly defend the First Amendment and who represent journalists in all respects, including those facing public records battles and defamation suits. “Showcasing and encouraging support to those fighting the good fight at newspapers (as the Fiske Award aims to do) can really go a long way."

Sara Feijo earned the 2015 award as a reporter at the Cambridge Chronicle & Tab. She is now the marketing and communications specialist for Northeastern University's School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs. "The award reaffirms that our work as journalists is important, and it encourages young reporters to keep digging, reporting, and telling the stories of those who might otherwise be voiceless,” Sara said. “The Fiske Award helps shine the spotlight on young journalists whose work is making an impact, whether at the local, state or national level."

The 2016 MacGregor Fiske award went to Jessica Trufant, then and now a reporter at in Quincy. "Journalism can sometimes feel like a thankless job, especially given today’s political climate and the challenges our industry is up against,” Jessica said. "Receiving the award provided me with the recognition we all crave, and reminded me of the important role that journalists play in their communities."